Consumer protection activities in recent years have progressed well, but more time is needed to ensure full coverage.—Photo ktdt

HCM CITY (Biz Hub)– Consumer protection activities in recent years have progressed well, but more time is needed to ensure full coverage, said deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Competition Management Department Nguyen Phuong Nam on Thursday.

Nam was speaking at a conference in HCM City to review the Consumer Production Law, which became effective two years ago.

He said that Viet Nam had been in a recession, and that only the most developed countries could offer the best protection for consumers during this period.

The consumer protection activities had been carried out well in the provinces of Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. However, northern provinces lagged behind in such activities, he added.

For the last two years, the local departments of industry and trade have received 550 consumer-protection cases annually, and more than 90 per cent of them have been solved.

These figures do not include cases carried out at associations and organisations that were established to protect consumer rights.

The number of cases has been limited, but it shows that consumers have begun to realise their rights, according to the department.

Some participants at the conference, however, did not agree.

"Consumer protection activities in the country are not that active. Two years have passed, and consumers still have not understood their eight basic rights," said Nguyen Van Hau, deputy chairman of the HCM City Lawyers Association.

Some understand the law but others were afraid to take their case to court. Pham Thi Viet Thu, deputy chairman of the HCM City Consumer Rights Protection Association, agreed with Hau, saying that violators of consumer rights had received light punishments.

To remedy the weaknesses of the law, conference participants proposed amending the law and strengthening people's understanding about their rights.

In addition, the skills of staff working at consumer rights organisations, departments and associations also needed to be improved, they said.

Nam reassured the conference attendees that progress would continue as the department had proposed changes on penalties and punishments, and was waiting for approval from the Government.

Beginning next year, staff who work in the consumer-protection field in provinces and cities will be sent to other countries to improve their skills. — VNS